Came Women and Girls Development Organisation (CAWOGIDO) is a community based diaspora organisation dedicated to improving the health and well-being of a variety of people from disadvantaged communities, Black and Minority Ethnic groups, develop their potential and mobilise them to engage effectively in community development and regeneration activities and build their capacities.

As an organisation with solid experience in women, girls and young people’s issues, we aim to promote a more stable, fairer and more prosperous world, and combat gender based violence and global poverty.

Providing support and capacity building for vulnerable women and girls and marginalized young people is our responsibilities.

Working in coordination and consultation with other partners and stakeholders both in the UK and abroad.

Came Women and Girls Development Organisation (CAWOGIDO) recognises that poor health of women and their inequitable access to health provision, adversely impact on the socio-economic development of diaspora women’s organisations in the UK and continues to contribute to poverty.. CAWOGIDO therefore adopts a holistic view which requires a multi-sectorial strategy for the implementation of health, education, economic development and socio-economic programmes.

Get in touch and get involved with CAME Women and Girls Development Organisation (CAWOGIDO), Support CAWOGIDO to protect vulnerable women and girls from gender based violence and poverty in the UK and in Africa.

Your Donations Will Make A Difference

We would like to thank the many donors who continue to support our mission. It is your generous contributions that enable us to make a difference in the lives of so many girls and women facing gender based violence and hundreds of unemployed young people. Considering the number of people affected by the devastation of poverty, violence and disease, much more effort is warranted. It is evident that, any fund donated to the organization will make a difference. The organization accounting plan follows the normal accounting procedures and are open to scrutiny by the Board of Directors, Donors/sponsors and external Auditors. Project reports and financial reports would be available to all our supporters.

Envisages a world in which targeted women and youths are able to enjoy the highest level of physical health, mental health and social inclusion and are accorded their human rights, integrity, dignity, equality and freedom from all forms of violence and discrimination. We take care to manage the money we receive to achieve this wisely and carefully.

What we do

pgrading and improving the environment, health, educational, social, and cultural and infrastructure aspects. Education on women and girls sexual and reproductive health through seminars, workshops & conferences and capacity building for women

Our work with young people in the Uk is more of promoting volunteering, education, sports, apprenticeship, training and employment by a practical means of development of information and skills including counseling and mentorship.

We aim to strengthen access to education for women and girls affected by breast ironing, FGM, HIV/AIDS and to strengthen the capacity of local organisations and communities to respond to the impact of breast ironing, FGM and HIV/AIDS among women and girls.

Breast Ironings And It’s Impacts

Breast ironing is a traditional practice that many Cameroonians do not talk about and nobody wants to work on it but it is secretly taking place. According to a recent study conducted in Cameroon it involves massaging or pressing the breasts of adolescent girls in order to suppress and reverse their development. The rationale is to prevent girls from developing breasts between 11 and 15 years old in the belief that a flat childlike chest will discourage unwanted male attention, rape and premarital pregnancy. Breast ironing is a well-kept secret between the young girl and her mother. Often the father remains completely unaware. The girl believes that what her mother is doing is for her own good and she keeps silent. This silence perpetuates the phenomenon and all of its consequences. Breast ‘ironing’ involves massaging the growing breasts of young girls in order to disappear the breasts, usually by using a stone, a hammer or a spatula that has been heated over coals. Breast ironing is terribly painful and violates a young girl’s physical integrity. Breast ironing exposes girls to numerous health problems such as cancer, abscesses, itching, and discharge of milk, infection, dissymmetry of the breasts, cysts, breast infections, severe fever, tissue damage and even the complete disappearance of one or both breasts. This painful form of mutilation could not only have negative health consequences for the girls, but often proves futile when it comes to deterring teenage sexual activity. Saying that breasts are destroyed is an understatement. Adolescents are traumatised, mutilated. This is a serious damage not only on their physical integrity, but also on their social and psychological well-being. And we must stop it

One of CAWOGIDO’s objectives is information dissemination and sensitisation campaign against gender based violence and in particular against the practice of FGM, breast ironing and child marriage. Our vision is to contribute to the total elimination of all forms of gender based violence and sexual abuse of women, including FGM (in all its forms).

Our current focus is on Community campaigns through mobilisation and engagement as well as education and sensitization. Community campaign and education against FGM is a key feature of CAWOGIDO’s intervention. CAWOGIDO raises community awareness about FGM through workshops and seminars that target specific groups, including mainstream women’s groups, girl peer educators, African women, men, boys and girls both here in London and in Cameroon.

Information for trainings and sensitizations is focus on the origin and dangers of FGM. Groups are taught about the Children’s Act of 2001, which prohibits and punishes anyone who carries out the practice of FGM on a minor. Posters and banners are being produce to demonstrate the practice of FGM and the consequences of FGM. Women and girls and victims of FGM are encouraged to give testimonies and share their experiences with each other to promote understanding of the dangers associated with this FGM practice. They are empowered to say ‘No’ to FGM and to report perpetrators.

We are currently establishing community links with FGM practicing community to campaign against FGM, advise affected girls, and protect those at risk of FGM and early marriage. This strategy of involving members of the affected communities in campaign activities will give the community a sense of ownership and promoted longterm sustainability and contribute to ending FGM. Our campaigns – together with other GBV campaigns such as breast ironing and child marriage is yielding greater results.

We are currently seeking support from ROSA UK, FORWARD UK and COMIC RELIEF UK to continue to provide training, advocacy and community campaigns to the women and girls and the community.

In the area of sensitisation, training and development, we have built a skills in training for local health authorities, education, social services and in child protection interventions. We were instrumental in the establishment of the first breast ironing campaign for girls and women in the Cameroonian community.

Through a range of methods and media including broadcast, we have raised awareness among hundreds of Cameroonians in UK and in Cameroon. We proactively engages with Cameroonian communities who are also involved in all aspects of the organisation’s work as trustees, members, volunteers, sponsors.

CAWOGIDO prides itself on its ability to develop and deliver innovative programmes and activities to address a ‘hidden cultural crime’ breast ironing from Cameroon that nobody talks about. Cawogido’s ethos is to work in partnership with a range of public Cameroonian, community and voluntary sector organisations to achieve its mission and strategic aims/objectives.

In the past month we have been commissioned by members to provide training for volunteers to help them to tackle breast ironing in a more culturally sensitive manner

CAME WOMEN AND GIRLS DEVELOPMENT ORGANISATION is offering a FREE training in PROJECT MANAGEMENT for anyone especially young people looking to build their skills for the job market and wishing to work in project management. It is part of our charitable support. In return you will volunteer for us while practicising your skills.

Our project management training will lead to skills that will advance your career. CAWOGIDO validates your knowledge of project management processes and project writing skills, you’ll gain project management and writing capabilities that can boost your employability across all industries.

CAWOGIDO has met with a number of Cameroonian women, organisations and collaborates with all the key stakeholders who work against violence on women and girls in London, to discuss issues surrounding breast ironing amongst Cameroonian communities and all have said it is cultural violence.

OUR FUNDERS

John LyonsComic ReliefROSA LONDON SPORT Trust for LondonEaling Council London CatalystFree sportEdge FundFunderbirds Ealing CVSHeathrow Community FundVolunteer Service Overseas (VSO)Diaspora Volunteering Alliance (DVA)